The J.N.F. Hospital Fund was started at UMHS so that the students could help give back to the community and Joseph N. France General Hospital in St. Kitts(the fund’s namesake), which plays a major role in UMHS students’ growth as future physicians.
Kristina Catania and Monica Cerone, founders of the J.N.F. Hospital Fund at UMHS. Photo: UMHS SGA
The two founding students of the organization are Kristina Catania and Monica Cerone. They established this foundation a little over a year ago with only the greatest expectation. The honor of being the president of the J.N.F. Hospital Fund was then passed down to Mahfishan Khan, and then to SGA President, Christopher Garcia. Chris has held the position for two semesters and began his fundraising by selling UMHS clothing to students, faculty, and family.
Former J.N.F. Hospital Fund president Mahfishnan Khan. Photo; UMHS SGA
Over the two semesters, Chris has managed to raise close to $3,000. Several faculty members have also played an integral role in helping the cause as well. Dr. Michael Doherty has held numerous events centered around medicine and how it can be applied to all walks of life and throughout time, namely in the arts and in the theater. Dr. Steve Garmon, Dr. Mohan Kumar, and Dr. Nagy Milik (Introduction to Clinical Medicine professors) have guided each president to certain needs of the hospital and helped focus their efforts in areas of need.
Victoria Chokuba, the “DoctorDesigner," helped organize a fashion show, along with the extraordinary talents of fellow UMHS students Loretta Akpala, Hunza Ahmad, John G., Madhav Patel, Viktorija Petrovic, and Mariam David. The event included students from UMHS as well as models from the community, wearing outfits from local vendors, and raised a considerable amount of money for the hospital and other community causes.
To date, the foundation has raised and purchased over $6,000 dollars in equipment and supplies for the hospital, including an electrocardiogram and a keypad-locked refrigerator to keep medicine cold and secure. The J.N.F. Hospital Fund has grown out of its infancy and has taken root in the heart of the students at UMHS.
(Top photo) UMHS student Christopher Garcia, President of J.N.F Hospital Fund & SGA President. Photo: UMHS SGA
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Scott is Director of Digital Content & Alumni Communications Liaison at UMHS and editor of the UMHS Endeavour blog. When he's not writing about UMHS students, faculty, events, public health, alumni and UMHS research, he writes and edits Broadway theater reviews for a website he publishes in New York City, StageZine.com.
